Robbery plot trio jailed for family’s gun ordeal

Wesley Kenny, of Traston Road, Joshua Henshaw, of Handel Close, and Steven Miles, of Elgar Avenue, were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob between December 1 and 31, 2010, and possession of an imitation firearm with intent on December 10, 2010.

JAILED: From left, Wesley Kenny, Joshua Henshaw and Steven Miles

The three 22-year-olds were part of a plot to steal £10,500 from the Sebastopol home of Gwent greengrocer Craig Pumford, his wife, Melissa, and their 16-month-old son.

The court heard that on the night of December 10, 2010, Henshaw drove Kenny and two other unknown men to Mr Pumford’s house in Waterloo Court, where the three men pushed their way into the house wearing masks and waving three imitation firearms.

One of these – a ballbearing gun – had been supplied by Steven Miles.

The men demanded money, and once upstairs the greengrocer gave one of the unknown robbers £10,100 in cash from his bedroom, while Kenny stood at the top of the stairs.

At the same time, Mrs Pumford had gone to the bedroomof her 16-month-old son to call the emergency services, but the second unknown man took the phone from her. He then stood at the door of the child’s bedroom with his ‘gun’, staring at Mrs Pumford.

All three men then left the house, stopping to pick up a leather case which contained a further £400 in change, and were driven back to Newport by Henshaw.

Kenny was sentenced to six years and four months in prison for conspiracy to rob, and 30 months for possession of an imitation firearm with intent, to run concurrently.

Defending Kenny, Hywel Hughes said his role in the house had not been as great as the two unknown men’s.

Henshaw – who pleaded guilty on the basis that although he drove the three men to the scene he did not go into the house – was sentenced to four and a half years for conspiracy to rob, and two years for the firearms offence, also to be served concurrently.

Andrew Taylor, defending Henshaw, said he had expressed genuine remorse and regret for his part in the plot.

Miles pleaded guilty on the basis that he provided an imitation firearm knowing it would be used for a robbery but did not attend the house. He was given concurrent sentences of three years for conspiracy to rob and two years for possession of an imitation firearm with intent.

Defending Miles, Andrew Jones said he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and that his co-operation with the police had helped in their investigation.

Victims forced to move, says judge

SENTENCING the three men, Judge Rees Rowlands said the Pumford family had had to move as a result of the attack, and were still having to make mortgage payments while they wait for a sale.

Judge Rowlands said: “One can only imagine the terror that must have gone through Mr Pumford’s mind, and that of his wife.

“Dark, ready for bed, with a 16- month-old child when three armed men burst into the house.

“They weren’t to know the nature of their guns – to them they looked real.

“It’s a truly galling ordeal.”

DI Leigh Mears, from Gwent Police, welcomed the sentencing, saying the robbery had been a “particularly distressing and frightening incident” for the victim and his family.